Why Source Local Food?
Support the local economy. The purchasing power of businesses has the potential to greatly strengthen other local businesses, such as farms, value-added processors, and small-scale distributors. These jobs allow for a resilient, attractive community that loops back to strengthen the economy as a whole.
Market your business. Many customers are seeking out local food and choose restaurants and retail options that let them purchase local foods. Customers wanting to dine local will browse the Adirondack Harvest website and find their best local food options. Many other great options for featuring and highlighting local food on your menu is shown to draw people in.
Source the best tasting food available. With all the love and creativity that goes into serving meals or stocking food for hungry folks, start with the freshest, tastiest, and most unique, seasonal ingredients available! The Adirondacks are home to a diverse array of producers, so you can make your menu as delicious and diverse as you wish to imagine.
Decide your business’ message to your customers. The list goes on. Sourcing local reduces food miles traveled and the carbon footprint of food, plus, many local farms in the Adirondacks are dedicated to environmentally sustainable practices. The human and animal rights problems associated with industrial agriculture are alleviated when you source local. Food access— you can give more people access to the right for local, delicious food. Food waste— by purchasing local, food arrives to you quickly, often within the day it is picked or prepared, and thus the food waste associated with days of transportation and storage is eliminated. We all have our reasons for choosing the food we do. What does your business wish to say, through the power of purchasing dollars and to customers, about these issues?
How to Source Local Food for your Business or Institution
Browse the Adirondack Harvest website. You can search for producers by products they offer through wholesale, where they deliver, and the scale they cater to below. Perusing your options can help you find new types of products to create exciting new menu ideas!
Visit your local farmers’ market. Meet several growers, pick exactly what you want, and try new foods— all close to your business. Find a farmers’ market here.
Become an Adirondack Harvest member. When growers call and ask how to market their products, one tip we give them is to look at the Adirondack Harvest website for restaurants and retail businesses near them that source local food. Find more info on membership here.
Need more support? We have an experienced chef on staff to help you navigate any challenges or questions you have regarding local food purchasing. Email cfs82@cornell.edu to set up an appointment.
Browse Farms That Sell Wholesale
To learn more about how you can be listed in our wholesale database, visit our membership page.
Photos provided by Ben Stechschulte in partnership with Essex Farm Institute, and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.
